After losing just one match in their previous seven outings before last week's loss against Birmingham City, Blackpool were one of the form teams in the Championship.

However a second loss in succession, this time against Luton Town, has shown what a cut-throat league the second tier can be.

Despite dominating the match in terms of possession and having six shots on target, the Seasiders could not find the back of the net and goals either side of half-time from Sonny Bradley and Elijah Adebayo sealed the win for the Hatters.

A late Jordan Clark third in stoppage time just made it look even more comfortable and it showed that perhaps Blackpool's fairytale first half of the season could be about to flip on its head.

 

 

 

 

Let's look at one winner and one loser coming out of the defeat at Bloomfield Road yesterday for Blackpool.

Loser - Chris Maxwell

Soccer Football - League One Play-Off Final - Blackpool v Lincoln City - Wembley Stadium, London, Britain - May 30, 2021 Blackpool's Chris Maxwell celebrates with his medal after winning the League One Play-Off Final Action Images/Lee Smith EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club /league/player publications. Please co
Soccer Football - League One Play-Off Final - Blackpool v Lincoln City - Wembley Stadium, London, Britain - May 30, 2021 Blackpool's Chris Maxwell celebrates with his medal after winning the League One Play-Off Final Action Images/Lee Smith EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club /league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details.

After limping out of the win against Blackburn Rovers at the start of October with a thigh injury, captain Chris Maxwell finally returned to action after two months on the sidelines.

It wasn't a happy return though for the Welshman, who conceded three goals on his return to action and there were questions over his actual fitness from some fans.

Maxwell found himself in no mans land for Luton's first goal - a header from Sonny Bradley following a corner - and he didn't cover himself in glory for Adebayo's strike either.

His performance will leave Neil Critchley with a lot to think about as they travel to Pride Park to face Derby County next week.

Winner - Daniel Grimshaw

Soccer Football - Championship - Reading v Blackpool - Madejski Stadium, Reading, Britain - October 20, 2021 Blackpool?s Daniel Grimshaw Action Images/Andrew Boyers EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details.

Because of Maxwell's poor showing, one of the only winners to come out of this loss could be Grimshaw.

The 23-year-old was a summer signing after being released by Manchester City and despite having hardly any senior football experience, Grimshaw was thrown in as a starting stopper when Maxwell was sidelined.

Grimshaw did well in the main, keeping three clean sheets and only being a part of three losses as well, and perhaps Critchley seeing how Maxwell performed should have stuck with him once again and given his captain a little bit more time to recover.

It could be that he is thrown straight back in next week against Derby and if you are Chris Maxwell you couldn't possibly complain if that happened.